Thread: D4 front left driveshaft fails, twice

Sounds like an outer CV - why replace the driveshaft and not just the CV. If it failed after less than 1000km to me there are only two options - the original CV/shaft was not actually changed or there is a bad batch and the second failed as a result of a manufacturing fault.

Garry

There is a pin/collar arrangement that holds the CV joint in place. If that's not refitted correctly (happened to me once), you'll get the "CV" noise and drive will fail. However, I didn't think they needed to replace the whole driveshaft, so perhaps your issue is a little different?

Cheers,

Gordon

Thanks Gordon. No idea if it involved the pin/collar arrangement or something else. Who knows what actually gets found or done during warranty repairs? Unfortunately, I'm a bit gun-shy now about it happening again, even though I have enjoyed this car immensely for the last 2 years. Fingers crossed, eh?

Cheers.

I'm now waiting for the next CV/driveshaft failure. Less than a month after the last replacement (by a different workshop) and the ticking noise has returned with a vengeance, particularly after a long day of driving. Ticks like crazy in the front left while doing U-turns and even normal right turns/bends. Also ticks a bit on full left lock as well and I'm starting to hear the same ticking noise in the front right at full lock either way. Strangely, there's no ticking at all first thing in the morning and it keeps increasing as the car/drivetrain gets warmer.

The sound is awful but no sign of another failure yet so I'm reluctant to request a repair, as the first repair converted a curious ticking noise into a breakdown/recovery fairly quickly (9 days) and I'd rather not bring that on again.

Could it be something else making this noise? It's getting worse but it keeps working on long highway drives (600km/day) and long low-range climbs and descents in very steep country in the last couple of weeks while the ticking noise has been there and getting worse.

Is anyone else having repeated CV problems or hearing a ticking sound on full lock either way?

Originally Posted by Beamin

The sound is awful but no sign of another failure yet

I'd take this as a sign of impending failure and get it resolved before it fails totally.

Originally Posted by Graeme

I'd take this as a sign of impending failure and get it resolved before it fails totally.

Thanks Graeme but I've tried that twice now and it led to failure within 9 days the first time and then "impending failure" within a few weeks this time. I'm not sure what else I can do.


What's going on? Within the space of 6 weeks I've had one replacement, then a total failure and a second replacement, now another impending failure. Two different LR workshops have been involved and 3 successive parts (maybe 4 if the right one is now failing as well). Am I just unlucky getting 3 successive dud driveshafts? Am I doing too many U-turns? Should I keep the windows closed and turn up the stereo?


Or could it be something else? Have the repairs so far been replacing the wrong part? Could the diff generate this sort of noise? The bearings? Brakes? Wheels? Nuts?

I cannot think that its anything to do with how you are turning to be re-occurring after such a short time. If replacing the driveshaft fixes the noise then I find it hard to think the noise is being produced by anything else, although it could be something else causing the driveshaft to fail. I don't know whether the driveshafts are supplied fully filled with grease but if not then perhaps lack of grease was the cause of the 2nd failure. But now the 3rd and the right one too? I wonder if the suspension bushes now flex to such an extent whilst doing U-turns that the CVs are turned too sharply for their design.

I have always nursed CVs when doing tight U-turns in front or 4 wheel drive vehicles because they are prone to excessive wear on full lock but a CV lasting only a few weeks has to be caused by something other than hard driving.

Just possible, but have you checked the wheel nuts?

John